Dairy product chilling device



Nov. 7, 1939. c DOERlNG 2,178,780

DAIRY PRODUCT CHILLING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a; DY Jhven 97" E C/zarZes floeru y Nov, 7, 1939. c. DOERINGI 2,178,780

DAIRY PRODUCT CHILLING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5) fr k I I XQ 42 Nov. 7, 1939; C DQERWG 2,178,780

DAIRY PRODUCT CHILLING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov.7, 193% C. DOERENG DAIRY PRODUCT CHILLING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch .25, 1936 l'nvenfor Z65 Doe?" Nov. 7, 1939.

c. DOERING DAIRY PRODUCT CHILLING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet 5 lIi/LLIIII mum.

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ar Key Patented Nov. 7, 1939 PATENT OFFHQE 2,178,780 DAIRY PRODUCTCHILLING DEVICE Charles Doering, Chicago, Ill., 'assignor of onehalf toHenry Doering, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 25,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to chilling devices and more particularly todairy product chilling machines, although certain features thereof maybe employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of improved means forhardening dairy products directly from the churn or other producingdevice which converts liquids into substances for eventual consumptionin a solidified state.

It has heretofore been the practice of subjecting churned plasticsubstances to refrigeration prior to packaging or otherwise treatingsuch for eventual consumption. This involves the placement of the newlyproduced dairy products into a hardening room which requiresconsiderable time for solidifying the substances. Not only is a greatdeal of time entailed in hardening plastic dairy substances, but suchmasses become unevenly solidified in that the body proximate to thesurface becomes much colder than the interior to the extent that thedairy products such as butter become mottled, non-uniform in texture,and lacking inhomogeneity.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for hardeningplastic dairy substances substantially instantaneously and uniformlythroughout the body thereof.

Another object is to provide means for hardening successive incrementsof plastic dairy products so as to effect their solidificationuniformly, homogeneously and substantially instantaneously.

Still another object is to provide means for instantaneously solidifyingplastic dairy substances in the continuous treatment of successiveincrements.

A further object is to provide instrumentalities that subject successiveincrements of plastic dairy products to refrigeration so as to effecttheir 0 solidification without entailing much time.

A still further object is the provision of means for converting plasticdairy substances into solids without entailing much time or renderingthe constituents thereof lacking in complete homo- 45 geneity.

Still a further object is to provide means for uniformly treatingsuccessive increments of plastic dairy substances without entailing anyappreciable time or labor and effecting their accumulation into auniformly blended and homogeneously solidified mass.

' Other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of an illustrated embochment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

1936, Serial No. 70,788

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a device embodying features ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view in elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view in elevation taken substantially along lineIVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken substantially along line VV of Figure4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view in elevation of a modified form ofdischarge conveyor that may be utilized or substituted for the conveyorshown in Figure 4.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a frame l0 embodyinghorizontal beams Ii and 12 that are in spaced parallelism for elevatedsupport by rearwardly inclined forward supports l3i l and forwardlyinclined rearward supports l5i6 which are interconnected and maintainedin fixed spaced relation'by horizontal cross-beams If that serve as thebase of the frame ID. The horizontal elevated beams II and i2 as well asthe inclined standards I3i4 and I5i5 are maintained inspaced parallelismby transverse cross-members l8 extending between members l5 and i6 andfastened thereto. Forwardly inclined intermediate beams i3l4' areinterposed between the beams I I|2 and I3-I4 so as to rigidify theframework and supporting structure as will appear more fullyhereinafter.

A shaft I9 is supported by the horizontal beam members i l and I2 whichare provided with split bearings 28 and 2|, respectively, for journalledsupport of the shaft E9. The shaft l9 carries a comparatively largecylindrical member such as a drum 22 that is fixed to the shaft i9 forrotation therewith between the horizontal beam members i I and i2. Thedrum 22 presents a large circumferential surface that is refrigerated inany suitable manner as commercial practice may dictate. In this instancethe drum 22 is refrigerated by providing a comparatively narrow chamber23 interiorly thereof owing to the provision of a somewhat smaller drum24 concentrically positioned therein for rotation therewith owing to itsattachment to the shaft I9.

It is to be noted that the refrigerant chamber or space 23 extendsaround to the sides 25 of the external drum 22 in that the internal drum24 is uniformly smaller and of corresponding shape to present arefrigerating chamber 23 throughout the surface extent thereof forcommunication with apertures 26 and 21 provided in the shaft 19 that istubular to present the axial passages 23 and 23 proximate to both endsof the shaft l9. It will be apparent, therefore, that any suitablerefrigerant such as a brine solution may be circulated through the axialpassage 28 for discharge through the aperture 25 and circulate throughthe refrigerant space 23'for eventual discharge through the aperture 21and the axial passage 25. For that matter, the direction of supply orcirculation may be reversed, it only being important to bring therefrigerant in contact with the peripheral surface of the external drum22 to maintain such at freezing temperature for chilling plasticsubstances in a manner that will appear more fully hereinafter.

It will be apparent that the shaft l9 has threaded couplers 33 and 3!fixed to the extremities thereof to enable the connection of therefrigerating supply thereto as well as its recirculation in a mannerthat is known in the art. The sides 25 of the external drum 22 are.provided with sheets 32 of insulation material so that theheat-absorbing action of the refrigerant will be confined to theperipheral surface of the drum 22 along which the plastic substancestraverse for contact therewith to more effectively and instantaneouslyimpart a chilling temperature thereto and effect the solidificationthereof in successive increments as the drum 22 rotates with theconveyor mechanism for feeding the dairy substances thereto in acontinuity of operations.

The dairy or other substances are supplied to the peripheral surface ofthe external drum 22 by an endless conveyor belt 33 which runs overrollers 34 and 35 fixed to shafts 36 and 3?, respectively. The shaft 36is journalled in a conveyor frame unit 38 which is supported between astandard 39 and the forward frame standards l3 and it. The verticalstandard 39 may be reinforced by a cross-member 48 that effects theattachment thereof to the base if of the frame ID. The shaft 37, on theother hand, is journalled in the bearings ll carried by an elongatedbracket 42 which is pivoted as at 43 to a cylindrical housing or casing44 which envelops the external drum 22 for spaced concentric positioningrelative therewith. The cylindrical casing 44 is supported by thestandards l3l 4 and ll 6 as well as a strut Q5 fixed to the base H. Thecrossmember I8 which bridges the rearward inclined standards l5 and 16may also be resorted to for bracing and supporting the housing 44.

It is to be noted that the shaft 31 which drives the roller 35 of thefeeding conveyor 33, is or may be of tubular construction (see Figure 4)so as to enable the circulation of the refrigerant through the interiorof the drive roller 35 and provide a chamber that is conducive to thedischarge of the plastic substance to the drum 22. Threaded pipe couples3'? (Figure 3) are fixed to the extremities of the shaft 3? to enablethe introduction of any suitable refrigerant into the conveyor roller 35for the specified purpose.

The top extremity of the casing 4 is fixed to a plate 6-6 attached to anangle bar 4'! bolted or otherwise anchored to an angle plate 43 thatextends between and is countersunk into the top extremities of theforward inclined standards l3i 4. As shown, the casing 44 comprisesspaced metallic sheets 49 and 53 spaced with insulation material iii topreclude or minimize thermal transmission therethrough and to confinethe freezing medium within the space 52 defined between the externaldrum 22 and the interior surface 9 of the drum casing or housing 44.

Side members 53 extend from the casing 44 to project beyond the sides ofthe drum 22 so as to confine the material traversing space 52 andpreclude the entrance of foreign substances that are usually prevalentin the atmosphere.

In order to vary the position of the conveyor roller 35 on the conveyorbelt 33, the forward extremity 54 of the elongated bracket 42 isfurcated as at 55 to receive an eccentric 56 mounted on a shaft 51 thathas a handle member 58 fixed thereto to adjust the angular position ofthe bracket 42 relative to its pivot 43. An. arcuate bracket 59 is fixedto the forward inclined standard I3 in the path of the handle member 58which has a threaded stud 6G projecting therethrou'gh to engage any oneof the apertures 6| provided in the arcuate bracket 59 to maintain thehandle member 58 in a predetermined ad- J'usted position. v

A collector andconveyor belt cleaning pan 62 is carried by the pivotshafts 43 and 51 of the elongated conveyor roller bracket 42 so that theconveyor belt 33 will have traverse therein on its return to dischargethe residue of the substances that pass therethrough and do not enterthe chilling path 52 defined by the external drum 22 and the confrontingsurface 49 of the housing 44.

Any suitable scraper may be provided for contact with a conveyor belt 33to remove such residue that remains thereon while in the confines of thecollector pan 62. A series of transverse rollers 63 having axiallyextending rods 64 are journalled for support by the conveyor rollersupporting frame unit 38 to enable a supply of large quantities of dairyplastics from any suitable source such as a churn to the refrigerateddrum 22. Upstanding members 65 are fixedto the conveyor roller frameunit 48 and its forward standard 39 to define a substantiallyrectangular guide trough for substances that are carried by the conveyorbelt 33 for contact with the peripheral. surface of the external drum 22that carries the substances through the chilling space 52.

In order that the substances may be deformed prior to their delivery tothe drum 22 in contact with the peripheral surface thereof and providefor the entry thereof into the chilling space 52 for instantaneoussolidification, a flat rectangular compressing member 66 is pivotedbetween the forward frame supporting standards I3-l4 as at El foroscillation by interconnected lever arms 68 which have a shaft 69extending therebetween for attachment through brackets to the forwardand upward portion of the compressing member 66 (Figures 3 and 4). Theoscillating arm 68 is connected with a lever that has its extremitylinked to a bell crank ll which is fixed to a shaft 12 rotated by anelectric motor 13 through a train of reducing gears confined in thecasing 14 (Figures 1 and 2).

The electric motor 13 is mounted on a plate which is fixed to ahorizontal beam 76 supported at the proper elevation by standards ll tocomprise a laterally positioned auxiliary frame attached to the primaryframework I!) described above. It is to be noted that the shaft 18 whichis interposed between the electric motor 13 and speed reducer 14,carries a pulley 19 over which a belt 38 passes for connection with thepulley 8i fixed to the shaft 37 that carries the conveyor roller 35(Figures 1 and 4) so as to oscillate the substance deforming member 66and simultaneously rotate the drive roller 35 of the conveyor 33 to feedplastic substances from a churn or other source to the surface of drum22.

The moment the substances contact the peripheral surface of the externaldrum 22, traverse of successive increments is effected thereto and alongthe chilling chamber 52 so that freezing is instantaneously effected tocause the solidification of the plastic substances. Rotation of the drum22 is effected by means of a large spur gear 82 fixed to the shaft IIbeyond the bearing 20 for meshing engagement with a pinion 83 carried bya shaft 84. The shaft 8!! is journalled in a bearing 85 supported by theframe ID, the shaft 84 extending from a speed reducer 36 mounted onplates 81 carried by the beams I5 of the auxiliary frame describedabove. The shaft 84 is operatively connected to a train of gears withinthe speed reducer 86 for response to therotation of the shaft 83 whichextends from the other end thereof to carry a pulley 89 over which abelt 9!! extends for engagement with a pulley 9| fixed to an armatureshaft 92 of the electric motor 93.

The electric motor 93 has its base on a platform 94 supported bycross-beams 95 that bridge theparallel beams I6 of the auxiliary frame,the motor imparting comparatively slow rotation tothe drum 22 owing tothe speed reducer 86 and the comparative diameters of the spur gear 32relative to its driving pinion 83. It is to be noted that the shaft 84that extends from the speed reducer 86 carries a pulley 98 adjacent thepinion 83 for peripheral engagement by a belt 91 which engages a pulley98 carried by the shaft 99 journalled in a bearing H30. The bearing I05)is carried by a bracket IIlI fixed to the extensions 58 of the forwardinclined standard or support I3.

As shown, the pulley 98 is rotated by the shaft M'through the medium ofa belt 91 so as to impart rotary movement to the crank arm I02 pivotedthereon for operative connection with a bar I83. The bar I I33 isattached, at its other extremity to a crank arm I04. The crank arm IE4is in swivel engagement with a lever I65 (Figure 3) which is pivoted ona stud I06 carried by the forward frame standard extension 48 to impartoscillatory movement to an arm IDI formed in tegral with the lever I05.The arm I01 has an integral furcated end I38 to receive a pin I09 thatis anchored in a plate H guided for reciprocation in brackets III fixedto the extensions 48 of the forward inclined standards I3I4.

The plate III] has a longitudinal rib II2 that extends from the backwardsurface thereof in the direction of a plurality of brackets H3 havingbosses H2 connecting the radial arms H5, H6 and H1 thereof, in thisinstance three, which are journalled to a transverse shaft I I8 that isfreely suspended between the extensions 48 of the forward framestandards Iii-I4. Any number of brackets H3 may be provided along theshaft I I4, there being five in this instance for supporting a bladescraper H9 that is attached to the lowermost arm II'I of the bracketsH3. The scraper H9 has its edge I253 in engagement with the externalsurface of the drum 22 to remove the chilled substances therefrom aswill appear more fully hereinafter.

It will be noted that the scraper blade H9 reciprocates with thesupporting plate III] that has the brackets H3 attached thereto in thatthe radial arms H3 thereof are provided with depending flanges I2I thatextend over the top of the supporting plate [Iii for support of thebrackets H3 with their aligning shaft H8. Ad-

justment of the scraper blade H9 with its edge I20 relative to theexterior surface of the drum 22, is made possible through the rod I22which is pinned at the end of bracket arm H and is guided by the forkedprojections I23 extending upwardly from the bracket arms HE. Acompressing spring l2 l envelops the rod II2 beyond the furcatedprojection I23 to normally urge the scraper blade H9 in contact with thedrum 22 through the controlled compressing of the spring I24 by knobsI25 in threaded engagement with the extremities of the rods I22.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the scraper blade I I9 with itsoperating edge I23 is resiliently suspended for normal rotary urgingabout the shaft H8 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 4)toward the surface of the drum 22 Where adjustment thereof is affordedthrough the manipulation of the knobs I25. Reciprocation of the scraperblade I II) by the instrumentalities described supra, enables uniformWear both on the drum and the edge I23 of the scraper blade H9.

The chilled substances are removed by the scraper H9 from the surface ofthe external drum 22 for discharge to a conveyor trough I26 which isdisposed beneath the scraper blade H9 for deposition of the chilledsubstances upon an endless conveyor belt I2'I. The endless conveyor beltI2I engages the periphery of horizontally spaced rollers I28 and I29that are journalled in bearing brackets I32 and I3I fixed to elongatedframe members I32 supported by angle brackets I33 and I34 attached tothe forward inclined frame standards I3-I l- (Figure 3).

The trough I23 is supported above the top surface of the moving conveyorbelt I2! by means of brackets I 35 that are attached to the elongatedframe members I32 horizontally disposed in a transverse direction toconstitute a conveyor frame that discharges the chilled substances inconsequence of clockwise rotation of the conveyor rollers I28 and I29(viewed from Figure 3).

Clockwise rotation of the drive conveyor roller I28 is effected througha pulley I36 carried by the conveyor roller shaft I31. The pulley I36has a belt I38 provided over the grooved periphery thereof forperipheral engagement with a pulley I39 fixed to a shaft I48. The shaftI43 (Figure 3) has a bevel gear I4! thereon for meshing engagement witha correspondingly sized bevel gear I42 carried by the extremity of theshaft 99 that is journalled in the bearing II!!! described above. It isto be noted that for the belt conveyor I21 may be substituted a screwconveyor I21 (Figure 6) that is confined in a housing I23 (Figure 6) todischarge the chilled substances into a butter print machine or otherdairy treating device as commercial practice may dictate. For thatmatter, the chilled substances may be directed by the conveyor I2! orI2'II' to a machine for filling tubs or other containers with the dairyproducts that have been chilled in the manner and with the apparatusdescribed supra. The screw conveyor I2'I' is advantageous from thestandpoint that it serves to knead or Workthe solidified substances toimpart the desired texture and body thereto preparatory to dischargeinto a suitable device for Go I ' so as to preclude access of theatmosphere.

diately upon being produced. As a result, the edible products are muchbetter in taste, more uniform, and exceedingly more sanitary. Productsthat are packaged immediately after their production, have an improvedtaste and texture over products which are stored or subjected tohardening over an appreciably longer period of time.

It is important to package edible substances as soon after theirproduction as possible and the teachings of the present inventionenables instantaneous packaging upon being removed from the churn orother treating device. Containers in use modern industry arehermetically sealed This is highly desirable and greatly improves theproduct from every possible standpoint when so packaged immediatelyafter their productionand/or chilling.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinspecifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing hereinshall be construed as limi- I tations upon the invention, its concept orstructural embodiment as to the Whole or any part thereof except asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with conveyormeans for feeding plastic material along a predetermined path, of meansconfronting said conveyor means for deforming the plastic material intoflattened masses, means providing an enlarged moving refrigeratedsurface in said path for traversed the plastic material thereover toeffect its conversion to a solid state, moving scraper means forremoving the said material from said refrigerated surface, and means forconveying the solid material along a predetermined path for furthertreatment or packaging.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with conveyormeans for feeding plastic material along a predetermined path, of

1 means confronting said conveyor means for deforming the plasticmaterial into flattened masses, means providing an enlarged movingrefrigerated cylindrical surface in said path for traverse 0f theplastic material thereover to effect its conversion to a solid state,reciprocatory scraper means for removing the said material from saidrefrigerated surface, and means for conveying the solid material along apredetermined path for further treatment or packaging.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with conveyormeans for feeding plastic material along a predetermined path, of meansconfronting said conveyor means for deforming the plastic material intoflattened masses, means providing an enlarged rotatable refrigeratedcylindrical surface in said path for traverse of the p-astic materialthereover to effect its conversion to a solid state, reciprocatoryscraper means for removing the said material from said refrigeratedsurface, and means for conveying the solid material along apredetermined path for further treatment or packaging.

4.. In a device of the character described, the combination Withconveyor means for feeding plastic material along a predetermined path,of oscillating means confronting said conveyor means for deforming theplastic material into flattened masses, means providing an enlargedrotatable refrigerated cylindrical surface in said path for traverse ofthe plastic material thereover to effect its conversion to a solidstate, reciprocatory scraper means for removing the said material fromsaid refrigerated surface, and means for conveying the solid materialalong a predetermined path for further treatment or packaging.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame,of a cylindrical member journalled for rotation on said frame, means forrefrigerating the surface of said cylindrical member, means for feedingplastic material to the surface of said cylindrical member, meansconfronting said feeding means for compressing the material into anddischarging slab-like formations to said refrigerated cylindricalmember, means providing an extended surface shaped to conform With theconfiguration of said cylindrical member and externally spaced therefromto define a refrigerated path for the material from said feeding means,and reciprocatory scraper means for removing the refrigerated materialfrom said cylindrical surface.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame,of a cylindrical member journalled for rotation on said frame, means forrefrigerating the surface of said cylindrical member, means for feedingplastic material to the surface of said cylindrical member, oscillatingmeans confronting said feeding means for compressing the material intoand discharging slablike formations to said refrigerated cylindricalmember, means providing an extended surface shaped to conform with theconfiguration of said cylindrical member and externally spaced therefromto define a refrigerated path for the material from said feeding means,and reciprocatory scraper means for removing the refrigerated materialfrom said cylindrical surface.

7. In a de'i e of the character described, the combination with a frame,of a cylindrical member journalled for rotation on said frame, means forrefrigerating the surface of said cylindrical member, means for feedingplastic material to the surface of said cylindrical member,oscillatingmeans confronting said feeding means for compressing thematerial into and discharging slab-like formations to said refrigeratedcylindrical member, means providing an extended surface shaped toconform with the configuration of said cylindrical member and externallyspaced therefrom to define a refrigerated path for the material fromsaid feeding means, reciprocatory scraper means for removing therefrigerated material from said cylindrical surface, and means forconveying the refrigerated material from said scraper means for furthertreatment or packaging.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame,of a cylindrical member jcurnalled for rotation on said frame, means forrefrigerating the surface of said cylindrical member, means for feedingplastic material to the surface of said cylindrical member, meansproviding an extended surface shaped to conform with the configurationof said cylindrical member and externally spaced therefrom to define arefrigerated path for the material from said feeding means, means forvarying the space between said cylindrical member and said last namedsurface, and means for removing the refrigerated material from saidcylindrical surface.

9. In adevice of the character described, the combination with a frame,of a cylindrical member journalled for rotation on said frame, means forrefrigerating the surface of said cylindrical member, means for feedingplastic material to the surface of said cylindrical member, meansconfronting said feeding means for compressing the material into anddischarging slab-like formations to said refrigerated cylindricalmember, an extended surface shaped to conform with the configuration ofsaid cylindrical member and externally spaced therefrom to define arefrigerated

